We come here tonight to honor the life and mourn the passing of Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, 21, of Santa Clara, CA and Spc. Dennis Poulin, 26 of Cumberland, R.I.
Since 2003 there have been 4445 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1525 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
The beautiful forget me nots created by llbear.
Lance Cpl. Lew died April 3 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. This incident is under investigation.
Lance Cpl. Lew is a 2008 graduate of Santa Clara High School and he joined the Marines in 2009. Officials said Cpl. Lew had been deployed to Afghanistan in November and helped to conduct counterinsurgency operations with the Afghan National Security forces and to provide security for the Afghan people.
A few months after enlisting, Cpl. Lew wrote on his Myspace page, "Brand new Marine. Feels good." On his Facebook message to his friends in March, Cpl. Lew wrote it was "hot in Afghanistan" and that he would see everybody in three months. He also has as his status on his Facebook page, "Engaged."
Lew was a talented break dancer who performed in school assemblies and other events. Monday night in his honor, friends of Cpl. Lew attended a dance practice, according to his Facebook page.
Friends who posted on Lew's Facebook page said he was an avid breakdancer and "tricker," an alternative sport that involves kicks, flips and twists. They said he was known for joking around and keeping the mood light.
The military has honored Lew with the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
"Mom, I finally found
my calling."
Just a few days before Spc. Dennis Poulin was killed, he called his mother and
told her "he finally found his calling." His mother, Doris Poulin, told ABC TV 6 her son was
due home April 18th and told her he would re-up because his friends and brothers
were still over there. He wanted to make sure everyone made it home safely. A
few days after that call, Spc. Dennis Poulin died when the MRAP (Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected) vehicle he was riding in overturned. Poulin was a gunner and
died from injuries from the accident.
His mother told ABC news, her son continued to help others even after his death.
He was an organ donor. Seven people are able to live because of his actions.
He was a soldier and hero through and through.
Poulin's girlfriend, Shyleen Simmons, told the Projo.com,
she had spoken to Poulin just hours before his accident. She bought him plane
tickets to come home and visit their son for Easter.
“He was so amazing,” she said. “He was honor bound. He picked his
friends and felt bound to them as if they were his family, closer to them than
his blood family. When he was in Afghanistan, he would call a lot, usually with
Skype, and he would share in Nikolous’ birthdays.”
Shyleen Simmons and their five year old son, Nikolous, flew to Landstuhl,
Germany when they were given the terrible news. They were with Dennis's mother
and father, and all were able to say their goodbyes to him. Spc. Poulin died
shortly after their visit on March 31st.
Rest in peace, Spc. Dennis Poulin.
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